Case filed against 'Face the People' editor, reporter; PBI ordered to probe

A Dhaka court on Sunday ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate a case filed against Face the People Editor and Publisher Saifur Sagar and investigative reporter Mohammad Yusuf over allegations of extortion and defamation.

Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman passed the order after recording the complainant's statement and directed the PBI to submit its investigation report by August 10.

The case was filed by Abu Md Kamruzzaman on behalf of Mastul Foundation.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly demanded Tk20,000 in exchange for publishing favourable reports about the foundation, Tk15,000 for publishing its press releases, and a monthly payment of Tk50,000. The complainant alleged that after the foundation refused to comply with the demands, the accused threatened to tarnish its reputation.

The complaint further alleged that Face the People published a report on June 28 that defamed the foundation, causing reputational damage estimated at Tk200 million.

The court, after taking the complaint into cognisance, ordered the PBI to investigate the allegations and submit its report by August 10. The allegations contained in the complaint have not yet been proven in court.

-HIS